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FIND OUT WHAT MAKES AN EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY

Our tours offer the best value in educational travel because we perfect the details teachers tell us matter most. Hotel location, food quality and abundance, chances for immersion cultural learning, tour design and number of inclusions—these are the building blocks for your program.

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Terrible Experience in Paris

We went to Paris with my son's class. We had three tour guides, didn't follow the agenda, and didn't even get to see sites such as The Louvre. I've tried contacting ACIS numerous times over the last month about my experience and received zero response.

Date of experience : March 28, 2024

Reply from ACIS Educational Tours

Dear Maggie, I understand that our SVP of Sales Liz Rees did get back to you. I apologize for any delay in responding. We do understand there was a problem at the Louvre, and we are terribly sorry for that. The timed entrance was not available which resulted in a long wait to get in and we understand that took precious time in Paris. The fact that you had tickets but just needed to wait was not properly explained by the tour manager. Regarding the multiple tour managers, we sent a US Staff member who was on quality control in Paris to meet your group, as is our standard during peak travel times. When she realized that the relationship between the tour manager and the group was not positive, we made a quick change to have another Tour Manager take over. The US Staff member stayed with your group during the transition time. I am sorry that Paris wasn’t all smooth. I also understand that the weather wasn’t great which can but a damper on what should be a beautiful walkable city. I hope this clarifies a bit about the situation and I know that Liz wrote more detail in her response to you. Thank you, Laura Smart SVP Customer Experience

Peru, home to the Incan empire and to those who came before and after.

We just finished our trip to Peru, what an amazing experience! Fascinating place filled with culture, history, and beauty. The tour manager and local guides made the trip extra special by sharing their knowledge and expertise and providing historical context and folklore relevant to what we were seeing. Centrally located hotels gave students the opportunity to feel immersed, accompanied by great culinary opportunities. The itinerary was packed but well planned, every day was a unique experience.

Date of experience : April 12, 2024

Hi Gabriela, I am so happy you were able to experience our fabulous Peru trips! It is truly a magical country and so much more than just Machu Picchu, so many different experiences. Thank you for taking the time to write about your experience we know how busy teachers are! Gracias, Laura Smart SVP Customer Experience

ACIS does all the work...

ACIS does all the work. All you have to do is get students excited for a trip (super easy) and convince parents to spend money on their child's education (also pretty easy). And ACIS will even help you do all of that. They tell you exactly what to do and when to do it. Follow their instructions and you'll change the lives of your students.

Date of experience : April 13, 2024

Hi Matthew, This is what we are here for! Thank you for writing such a nice review and I hope people listen to you and start bringing more students overseas. We can't wait to help you plan the next one, Sincerely, Laura Smart SVP Customer Experience

Giovanni is the best tour guide.

Our tour guide Giovanni made the experience one that I will never forget. He knew so much about everything and never failed to answer any questions. He MADE the trip as good as it was. Without Giovanni Costa Rica would not have been anywhere near as fun.

Date of experience : March 09, 2024

Hi Dominic, Thank you so much for writing this review. I will make sure Giovanni hears your praises!! Pura Vida, Laura Smart SVP Customer Experience

Smooth sailing and confident adventuring

I had a wonderful experience taking my students to Costa Rica in March 2024 with ACIS. Throughout the planning and travel process, ACIS was there for me every step of the way. I had one point of contact with the company, so I never had to wonder who to reach out to with questions or concerns. Any questions I had were always answered clearly and in a very timely manner. I had the additional support of an Academic Travel Advisor -- someone with firsthand experience as a teacher taking students on trips with ACIS -- who even came to multiple pre-departure meetings to offer support and help answer any questions. I never worried about the safety of my students or chaperones and I knew that, if something did come up, it would be taken care of. Our Tour Manager was supremely knowledgeable and helpful so that we always felt supported and empowered to have a great time.

Date of experience : March 17, 2024

Hi Anna, Thank you so much for writing this review. I love Costa Rica and the Tour Managers there truly show the love of their country. I am so happy our US Team took great care of you too!! Pura Vida! Laura Smart SVP Customer Experience

We just returned from our second trip…

We just returned from our second trip with ACIS. Our Regional Director was very information, made herself available to answer any questions, and guided us through the process as this was my first time leading a trip. Although both trips were incredibly different from one another (went to Italy last year and Japan this year), the trips were very organized. There is a lot to process, but we visited many important locations. I liked how the trips were catered to my content area, art. Even though I had photography, ceramics, and painting/drawing students, there were activities and events that was interesting to everyone. Make sure you make that clear to ACIS before you decide on your trip!

Date of experience : March 29, 2024

Hi Anita, I am so happy you had a great experience is two such different countries. ACIS does pride itself on being able to customize to what teachers really want on their overseas programs, so such great art content in both Japan and Italy. I am sure your students learned so much! Can't wait to see what you do next. Laura Smart SVP Customer Experience

ACIS came to our rescue with diverted flight to Paris!

Our recent direct flight to Paris from SFO was diverted due to engine issues. With long hours at the airport, re-routing, and ticketing issues, ACIS stepped in and covered day hotel booking & reimbursement. ACIS also was available by emergency call to facilitate airline booking and hotel reservations. I felt reassured knowing what to do with ACIS when we had baggage issues and delays. If ACIS wasn't so supportive, I would have completely had a melt down.

Hi Rachel, I am so sorry that you had flight issues, that is always stressful but especially when you are leading a group. I am glad you felt supported when this was happening, we truly believe that our support system is the unknown extra something that makes ACIS what it is. We hope nobody ever has to use it....but when you need it we will be there! Thanks for talking about this experience in a review. Now that you know it is there hopefully you will never need to use it again! Laura Smart SVP Customer Experience

ACIS A+ Experience

This is my second time traveling with an ACIS tour group and I can't imagine trying to book all the venues and arranging travel to so many experiences on my own. For people wanting to maximize their experience abroad, I highly recommend the investment in touring abroad with an ACIS guide. There is no way I could have managed this on my own so seamlessly. Worth every penny.

Date of experience : March 08, 2024

Hi Jill, Thanks for the review! It is amazing how much you can see when it is all planned out. I truly appreciate our overseas team taking all the guess work out of it, so when you do have free time you can enjoy it! Thank you for taking your second tour...and I hope it is only second of many. Laura Smart SVP Customer Experience

Highly recommended!

I highly recommend using ACIS for your upcoming student travel needs. The accommodations were conveniently situated at the heart of each destination, and the itinerary was meticulously planned. The Tour Manager exceeded expectations, providing exceptional assistance and flexibility throughout the journey. All of the local guides were fantastic. A particular highlight was the painting lesson in Montmartre. A+

Date of experience : April 08, 2024

Hello Carmelina, Thank you for writing a review. The painting lesson is one of my favorite activities we do in Paris! We are so happy we earned an A+. Laura Smart SVP Customer Experience

This is by far the best educational…

This is by far the best educational travel company! They are always ready to help you put together the best possible travel experience. While traveling, you are always escorted and have pre arranged entrances so time is not lost on details during your trip. This maximum planning allows even the new teacher to get the best possible travel experience!

Date of experience : March 21, 2024

Hi Dee, Thank you for your review!! I know you always get the most out of your trips!! I appreciate that you took the time to write something and to encourage the next generation of teacher to start their travel journey with ACIS. Thanks, Laura Smart SVP Customer Experience

ACIS worked with me to create an itinerary. Although the Lucerne, Tyrol, Munich trip already exists, we made changes to the itinerary to fit our exact needs.

ACIS worked with me to create an itinerary of a lifetime for my students. Meals were a cultural experience, all walking tours and museum tours were excellent, and the hotels were centrally located and very nice. Overall, it was an amazing travel experience and my students will never forget the European experience!

Date of experience : March 19, 2024

Hi Trisha, Thank you for taking the time to write a review, we know how busy teachers are!! We are so happy to hear that we were able to customize to your needs and make a it a great experience for your students. Welcome back! Laura Smart SVP Customer Experience

Spring Travel to Seoul Korea

We had 20 of people from our group travel to Korea through ACIS during spring break. We had so much fun and enjoyed our trip. Their service team in US and the a guide and coach bus driver was amazing and would like to connect with them again in the future. Thank you ACIS!!

Date of experience : April 06, 2024

Thank you! We are so happy you had a great time in Korea! It is on my bucket list to visit. Can't wait to plan something for you again! Laura Smart SVP Customer Experience

Amazing trip to France

Amazing trip to France! I used ACIS to plan a trip to France for a group of students ranging in age from 7th grade to high school seniors. We had a fantastic guide, great meals, centrally-located hotels, knowledgable guides, and exciting activities. It was a phenomenal trip and I will use them again in the future!

Hi Emily, Thank you for your review. What a range of ages, so happy that the activities were good for all. We can't wait to plan another trip for your school. Laura Smart SVP Customer Experience

Everything! Cara is the absolute best support person I could ask for, and Chris goes above and beyond as our guide. It is all about the people, and they are two of the best.

Date of experience : April 02, 2024

Hi George, Thank you for writing such a nice review. I agree Cara and Chris are the best! I am so lucky to work with such wonderful people that really care about what we do. Hope to see you out on the road one day! Laura Smart SVP Customer Experience

Athens and the Aegean

I have travelled with several companies over the decades; ACIS is by far the best, most reliable company. The itinerary was good; the tour manager in Greece was wonderful: local guides were terrific. The Boston office gave much important and needed info prior to the trip, and responded immediately to questions.

Date of experience : March 22, 2024

Hi Sherrilyn, Thank you for taking the time to write a review. I love this trip!! You see so much. I am so glad to see you had a great experience both stateside and overseas. Hope to that your next trip is just as great. Laura Smart SVP Customer Experience

Custom Route with Short Exchange for Language Teachers!!!

We did a 2024 Spring Break Tour of Germany, Switzerland, and France and had another great experience with ACIS from start to finish. Beth was very helpful with selecting a popular tour from the catalog and helped my school customize the route to include two days at a school in Germany where we did a language exchange with students learning English. Our tour manager, Sam Harker, was integral to the smooth organization of the trip. Flights, hotels, and meals were as advertised and families were able to use the ACIS website well. Although the tours are expensive, it's so nice to know ACIS does a great job with vendor quality and follows through with teachers to make sure they are pleased with the experiences. One additional note: We were able to apply a student voucher from a cancelled March 2020 trip on our tour! My former student's parents were so relieved to be able to sell that voucher to a current participant to get almost all of their refund processed. I was really impressed ACIS allowed a voucher to be applied to an account so many years later.

Date of experience : March 07, 2024

Hi Melinda, Thank you for taking the time to write a review!! I am so glad that Beth and Sam took such great care of you. We truly pride ourselves on our flexibility and ability to customize so I am happy you were able to take advantage and make such a wonderful cultural experience in the middle of your trip. I hope to see you in Europe again soon! Laura Smart SVP Customer Experience

ACIS is the clear winner

ACIS is the clear winner for school trips. The hotels are located so close to all of the sights, the restaurants have incredible food, and our tour manager (Dimitra Neonakis) was amazing!! The team worked hard to make sure we had the best experience possible!

Date of experience : February 24, 2024

Thank you for taking the time to right this review! I think Dimitra is amazing too... :) We do work hard to make sure everyone has a trip of a lifetime and appreciate your comments!! Laura Smart SVP Customer Experience

ACIS is the best company for student…

ACIS is the best company for student travel. Their customer service is amazing. But the most important thing is safety. I always feel safe by the hotel, tours, and resturants they choose. They will also work with you to add extra attractions. Their tour guides are amazing and share a wealth of information that is fun and exciting for all. The hotels are always clean and located to near attractions. Transportation is also safe and clean. The costs for a trip is reasonable compared to what you will receive. I have used ACIS for over a decade and they are amazing.

Date of experience : February 15, 2024

Hi Angela, Thank you so much for your review. We appreciate our relationship with great teachers like you! Hope to work together for another decade! Laura Smart SVP Customer Experience

Updated review

The first couple of days were amazing. Traveling though Paris, having fun with friends, and leaning about a new culture. Unfortunately as the days went on everyone started getting tired and grumpy, including our tour guide. On our last day in Paris, our guide got mad at me for interrupting his information (a simple mistake as he asked us to let him know when to move forward) His response was extremely sharp and left me feeling embarrassed in front of the group, not for the first time. Although I too was growing more and more frustrated, I chose to stay quiet. Throughout the next few days he grew more irritated with our group until we dreaded our time together. Admittedly we're high school girls, experiencing a new culture and have made mistakes. Sometimes we were too loud at the restaurants he took us to, and he would easily correct us or one of the chaperones would. However, on one of the last nights his response was beyond correcting and tipped over into impatient, disrespectful and aggressive (in tone). He not only said we were too loud but singled out individuals as “embarrassing”. The next day he did come back and apologize, but obviously the escalation of his tone though-out the trip has made it hard to enjoy. I appreciate the trip and am very thankful that I get to spend this time in France, but there was so much pressure to be the perfect tourist, that it ruined the trip.

Hi Addy, I am sorry you had this experience. I did look into who your tour manager was and I do see he has 100% excellent evaluations this year so I was surprised by your review. It is part of the group leader's and tour manager's responsibility to make sure that the students are integrating into the culture and being respectful of the locals eating and staying at the places we book for you. I am sorry that you found the tone offensive. I hope that overall you still had fun in France and return one day. Laura Smart SVP Customer Experience

Looking to Book Again!

Everything about the company and the experience was amazing. Tom (who worked out of the Boston office) worked with me to introduce the trip to parents and answer questions that I didn't know the answers to. He was able to help me with some challenges when students dropped the trip so that everything would still go smoothly. The direct flight to Europe was great and the Tour Manager, Paul, met us right when we landed and stayed with us until we got into the security line. Paul made the trip. His interaction with the students and his knowledge of the area were unparalleled. He offered suggestions for each of the days and made sure each decision was what we were looking for before executing it. Most importantly, when a student lost something of great importance he was able to offer solutions so that a replacement could be found and their trip wasn't ruined. We are already looking to book another trip!

Date of experience : February 16, 2024

Hi Missy, Thank you so much for your review. I am so glad everything went so well and we cannot wait to see you on the road again next year! Laura Smart SVP Customer Experience

Our Mission

Successful music programs and great music travel go hand in hand. Our customized touring packages help define a sense of purpose for ensembles, build ensemble unity and musicianship, and strengthen friendships. They help boost the ensemble’s reputation in the community and enhance recruitment and fundraising efforts. And, perhaps most important, they allow diverse cultures to come together and share in the universal language of music.

But Encore goes beyond travel. We are committed to supporting music education at home. From our director workshops and professional networking events to our scholarship programs for young musicians, we continue to give back to our musical communities year-round. That’s why “taking your music program to new places” is our mission. Whether “places” refers to exciting destinations or supporting your music programs at home, Encore is with you every step of the way.

Encore Tours is the performance division of ACIS Educational Tours, the quality leader in educational travel since 1978.

Meet Our Team

Our local experts work tirelessly to provide unparalleled support for ensemble, ensuring a seamless journey from start to finish. From coordinating performances in renowned venues to managing all aspects of travel logistics, our Boston-based team is committed to excellence. Trust us to handle the details, allowing you to concentrate on crafting unforgettable performances.

James Matthews

Glenn Quirion

Director of Business Development

Robin Teague

Program Consultant

Sean Boulware

Program consultant

Julian Edwards

Frieda Krantz

Director of Operations

Matthew LaMondia

Program Manager

Albertha Brown

Lead Flights Coordinator

David Solar

Director of Marketing

Our Overseas Network

We’ve meticulously crafted a global network to offer unparalleled support for musical ensembles. Alongside our Boston-based US office, we’ve established connections in every destination, spanning Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Budapest, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, and Uruguay.

Our overseas team members possess deep knowledge of each destination, along with a nuanced understanding of the local music scene—a rarity among travel operators. Whether securing prestigious performance venues or orchestrating seamless travel logistics, we’re dedicated to ensuring every note resonates effortlessly. Entrust us with the details, freeing you to focus on crafting unforgettable performances and treasured memories.

About the Departments

Tour consultants: regional directors & managers.

Our Tour Consultants, are experts in the art of customizing the perfect music tour experience. They are your partner, ensuring that your goals and preferences are matched to the best opportunities that Encore has to offer. From balancing sightseeing with performances and rehearsal time, to selecting the most inspiring venues, explaining pricing options and customizing activities important to your group, their insider knowledge and commitment to your needs ensures the arrangement of a superior performance travel experience.

Program Managers

Once your itinerary has been composed, your Program Manager becomes your primary contact for pre-trip logistics. From concert management to rooming lists, billing inquiries and more, they are your liaison to the behind-the-scenes Encore team. They work closely with your Tour Consultant to ensure that the unique needs of your group are fulfilled and that everything runs smoothly through the conclusion of your performance tour. Their focus on the pre-departure details allows you to concentrate on your ensemble.

Our Operations staff liaise with our worldwide network of experts to find you the best flights and perfect hotels, arrange transportation, secure your desired performance venues, facilitate instrument logistics, arrange cultural activities and more.

Traveler Support

Our Traveler Support department handles all of your passengers’ questions. From insurance options, to bills, to the tour itinerary, they will be there for your passengers throughout their Encore experience. Traveler Support can be contacted at  [email protected]

Affiliations and Partnerships

Customize Your Tour

Are you ready to take your ensemble to new places? Get a quote from one of our tour consultants who will help you customize a trip to meet your goals.

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